Humanity Before the Division of Sex

In Chapter VI, Steiner delves into the early stages of human evolution, describing a period before the division of the sexes. This era marks a significant phase in human development, where humanity existed in a more unified and spiritual form.

Androgynous Existence

Steiner explains that, in the early phases of human evolution, individuals were androgynous, possessing both masculine and feminine qualities within a single being. This state of existence was characterized by a unity of body and spirit, allowing humans to function as complete beings without the need for sexual differentiation.

Spiritual Nature and Perception

During this pre-sexual era, humans had a profound connection with spiritual realms. They were capable of perceiving spiritual entities and forces directly, without the mediation of physical senses.

This direct spiritual perception allowed them to live in harmony with the natural and spiritual worlds, operating from a place of instinctive wisdom and understanding.

Gradual Division and Evolution

Steiner describes how, over time, humanity began to undergo a gradual division into male and female forms.

This division was part of a broader evolutionary process aimed at advancing human consciousness and individualization.

The separation of the sexes marked a significant shift, as it introduced the necessity for reproduction and the development of more complex social structures.

Impact on Human Development

The division of the sexes brought about significant changes in human development. It led to the emergence of distinct male and female characteristics, both physically and spiritually.

This separation fostered the growth of individual consciousness, as humans began to experience the world from different perspectives based on their sex.

Spiritual and Cultural Implications

The transition from androgyny to sexual differentiation had profound implications for human spirituality and culture.

As humans became more physically oriented, their connection to spiritual realms weakened. This shift necessitated new forms of spiritual practice and cultural expression to maintain a connection with higher spiritual truths.

The Role of Higher Beings

Steiner suggests that higher spiritual beings guided this transition, orchestrating the division of the sexes as part of a divine plan for human evolution.

These beings ensured that humanity could continue to evolve, adapting to new challenges and opportunities presented by the division of sex.

Pre-Sexual Constitution of Humanity

In Chapter VII, Rudolf Steiner examines the constitution of humanity before the division into male and female sexes. During this period, human bodies consisted of a soft, plastic mass, and were influenced significantly by willpower. Upon separation from the parent being, humans appeared as incomplete organisms. Their organs continued to develop externally, much like the liberation from an egg-form, though without a hard shell.

Physical Development

Human bodies were warm-blooded, unlike previous states. This warm-bloodedness was crucial for development, achieved through increased external warmth. Humans had highly developed organs of motion, but the sense organs as we know them today were not evolved. The most advanced senses were hearing and the perception of cold and heat, with light perception developing later.

Gradual Separation of Sexes

The division of the sexes occurred gradually. Initially, humans were born with both masculine and feminine characteristics, enabling spontaneous generation under certain external conditions. This division slowly evolved, with individuals being born with more pronounced masculine or feminine traits.

Dependence on External Conditions

In this pre-sexual era, humans were heavily dependent on external conditions, such as the sun and moon, to regulate their activities. This regulation was instinctive rather than conscious, reflecting the mental life of the time. Humans experienced the outer life of nature directly through their senses, particularly hearing, which perceived every vibration and movement as a form of eloquent language.

Inner and Outer Life

The mental life of early humans was not yet an inner life as we understand it. Bodily and mental activities were not separate, and humans lived in resonance with the natural world. Their actions were guided by instinctive perceptions and feelings, which dictated their decisions and survival strategies.

Evolution of Mental Life

Early humans experienced dreamlike pictures within their souls, which did not represent external objects but were instead expressions of inner forces akin to willpower. These color-pictures and sensations shaped their activities, providing a foundation for the development of conscious inner life. Over time, the perception of external light evolved, leading to the development of new organs of sight, such as the two eyes, and a separation from the surrounding astral world.

Fructification and the Rise of Thought

With the separation of the sexes, the need for external fructification arose, necessitating cooperation between two individuals for reproduction. This change allowed for the development of inner organs capable of supporting thought and reflection. The surplus soul-force, which was once directed outward, became available for the development of the mind, enabling humans to become thinking beings.